Spindle for a winding machine

ABSTRACT

A spindle for rotating a yarn support to wind yarn upon the support includes a rotatable portion and a stationary portion. The rotatable portion has a sleeve therearound which is positioned over a recess to which a vacuum is applied when it is desired to remove the yarn support from the spindle. No vacuum is applied to the sleeve while the sleeve is rotating so that the sleeve bears against the yarn support and holds it on the spindle. In addition, centering means are utilized with the spindle to keep the yarn support from bowing when rotated at high speeds. Centering means utilize a series of floating weights which are urged by centrifugal force against the inside of the yarn support at a location in the middle of the yarn support. In an additional embodiment herein disclosed, a centrifugally operated seal is used to apply and release the vacuum which collapses and expands the sleeve which engages the inner surface of the yarn support.

United States Patent 11 1 Isoard et al.

I4 1 Dec.2, 1975 1 1 SPINDLE FOR A WINDING MACHINE [73] Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc-Textile, Paris.

France [22] Filed: May 16, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 470,447

[] Foreign Application Priority Data May 18, 1973 France 73.18440 [52] US. Cl. 242/462; 242/; 242/465; 242/466; 242/72 R [51] Int. Cl. 86511 75/30; B65H 79/00 [58] Field of Search 242/462, 46.3, 46.4, 46.5, 242/466, 72 R, 72 B, 68.2, 68.1, 68.3, 129.5, 129.7, 129.71, 130, 130.1, 35; 279/2,

1,523,608 3/1968 France 242/462 Primary E.\'aminerStanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or FirmSherman & Shalloway [57] ABSTRACT A spindle for rotating a yarn support to wind yarn upon the support includes a rotatable portion and a stationary portion. The rotatable portion has a sleeve therearound which is positioned over a recess to which a vacuum is applied when it is desired to remove the yarn support from the spindle. No vacuum is applied to the sleeve while the sleeve is rotating so that the sleeve bears against the yarn support and holds it on the spindle. In addition, centering means are utilized with the spindle to keep the yarn support from bowing when rotated at high speeds. Centering means utilize a series of floating weights which are urged by centrifugal force against the inside of the yarn support at a location in the middle of the yarn support. In an additional embodiment herein disclosed, a centrifugally operated seal is used to apply and release the vacuum which collapses and expands the sleeve which engages the inner surface of the yarn support.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures i. ill Ali Pdnnl US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 U.S. Pamnt Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 0153 3,923,261

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\ Pill ll US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,923,261

SPINDLE FOR A WINDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a winding spindle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a winding spindle for winding strand material at high speed.

2. Technical Considerations and Prior Art In the manufacture of textile materials, it is often necessary to wind textile yarn at high speeds on what are known as textile yarn supports, spools or tubes. The yarn supports are fitted over rotatable spindles which are driven at high speeds on the order of 20,000 to over 40,000 rpm to take up strands of yarn having linear speeds usually greater than 3,000 m/min. and capable of exceeding 7,000 m/min.

When dealing with speeds of this magnitude, it is necessary to securely and positively engage the yarn support with the spindle. At the same time, it is necessary to provide some means for conveniently releasing the yarn support from the spindle. The spindles of the prior art usually engage in nonslip relation with yarn supports by using mechanical means, such as circumferentially arranged balls, which move radially into engagement with the yarn supports by centrifugal force. The balls may be positioned in inclined planes on the spindle so as to move radially into engagement with the yarn supports or may be retained by radially expandable circular springs. These approaches, however, present difficulties in dynamic balancing and control. In addition, when utilizing these approaches, it is necessary to manufacture the spindles and their component parts with high precision machinery in order to obtain the proper balancing and control. Even with using costly manufacturing procedures, the spindles produced do not function with complete satisfaction at the high speeds encountered in the production of textile yarns. In lieu of using mechanical means, such as radially movable balls, inflatable membranes have been used in the prior art wherein the membrane is expanded by a pressurized fluid. This approach, however, is dangerous in that if the membrane ruptures or the fluid lines leak while the spindle and yarn support are moving at high speeds, the yarn support may fly off of the spindle.

Often, discarded yarn supports which are inexpensively constructed and have non-uniform geometric qualities and poor mechanical characteristics are utilized. Usually, this type of textile tube or support is not properly balanced and is structurally weak so that at high speeds, the tubes tend to deform. When the tubes are supported on spindles by devices which engage the tubes at locations adjacent the ends of the tubes, the tubes do not retain a cylindrical shape upon being rotated at high speed, but rather become bowed. When the tubes become bowed, they tend to vibrate due to impacts on the tube by winding in pilot rolls. As winding speeds increase, so does the amount of deformation and the intensity of impacts. Consequently, quality of the first layers of yarn deposited on the yarn support is quite low, and the quality does not improve until the thickness of the yarn deposited is sufficient to damp out the impacts. In addition to affecting the quality of a portion of the yarn, the impacts create a very high sound level having an intensity greater than 100 db.

In view of these problems, it is advantageous to avoid deformation of the yarn supports and to avoid vibration wherever possible.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the afore-mentioned difficulties, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved winding spindle.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide a new and improved winding spindle wherein the spindle rotates a spool, such as the yarn support, at high speed with minimum vibration.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a new and improved high speed spindle for rotating a yarn support wherein the spindle readily releases the yarn support when rotation ceases.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a new and improved spindle for rotating yarn supports wherein the spindle is disengaged from contact with the yarn support by applying a vacuum to the spindle, which decreases the external diameter of the spindle.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide a spindle for rotating yarn supports wherein the spindle will safely rotate a yarn support,

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a new and improved spindle for rotating yarn supports wherein the spindle may be effectively used with weak and/or unbalanced yarn supports.

It is yet a further object of the instant invention to provide a new and improved spindle for rotating yarn supports which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture while being suitable for high speed operation.

In view of these and other objects, the instant invention contemplates a spindle for rotating a yarn support or other detachable device, such as a tube, spool or the like, wherein the yarn support is engaged by a radially retractable sleeve which defines the outer periphery of the spindle. The radially retractable sleeve has a bearing portion thereon which engages the inner surface of the yarn support in non-slip relationship and has a recess therebeneath through which a vacuum is applied to retract the sleeve. In addition, the invention includes the concept of mounting the sleeve on a central portion of the spindle wherein the central portion has a rotatable member and a stationary member. The rotatable member is driven by a convenient driving means, such as an air turbine, while the stationary member provides support for the rotatable member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a spindle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a spindle designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a dynamic fluid seal configured in accordance with the principles of the instant invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the spindle according to the instant invention showing a yarn support bearing disposed in a retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a yarn support 10 which is mounted on a spindle, designated generally by the numeral 11. The yarn support 10 accumulates a yarn winding in the space indicated by the numeral 12 as the yarn support is rotated by the spindle 11. It is to be understood that the elements shown in section in FIG. 1 are concentric and symmetrical about an axis 13 which is the axis around which the winding 12 is formed.

The spindle 11 includes a stationary portion, generally designated by the numeral 14, and a rotatable portion, designated generally by the numeral 16, which is disposed in concentric relationship with the stationary portion. The stationary portion 14 forms the support for the rotatable portion 16 which is mounted on the stationary portion by sets of bearings 17-17. As will be explained hereinafter, the rotatable portion 16 releasably engages the yarn support 10.

The bearings 17-17 preferably use oblique contact high precision balls or rollers 18l8 which are positioned between inner and outer races 19 and 20 which are preloaded. Lubrication of the bearings 17 is accomplished by ejecting lubricant through a bore 21 which extends through the central portion 14 of the spindle and terminates with a nozzle 22 capped over the free end of the central portion. The lubrication of the bearings 17 is preferably accomplished by utilizing an oil mist which will travel through the bore 21 and be distributed by the nozzle 22 back through the bearings 17l7 and out of the space 23 between the stationary portion 14 and the rotating portion 16.

The rotating portion 16 of the spindle 11 is in the preferred embodiment driven by an impulse turbine, designated generally by the numeral 24. The impulse turbine 24 drives injectors 26 which are rigidly secured to the rotatable portion 16. Fluid, such as air, is delivered to the injectors 26 through ports 2727 located in the stationary portion 30 and exhaust through an opening 31. The fluid or air turbine 24 is of the type capable of rotating the rotatable portion 16 of the spindle 11 to speeds of over 40,000 rpm if necessary to wind yarn having a linear speed of 7,000 or more meters per minute.

In order to lock the yarn support 10 to the spindle 11, the rotatable portion of the spindle 16 has a sleeve 32 disposed therearound which fits over a circumferential recess 33 formed in the rotatable portion. The sleeve 32 has bearing surfaces 35 thereon which normally engage the yarn support 10 so that the yarn support 10 is held in non-slip relationship with the rotatable portion 16. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve 32 is made of a resilient material such as rubber which is dimensioned so that the bearing surfaces 35 project a distance two to four millimeters greater than the diameter of the yarn support 10 when the yarn support 10 is not mounted on the spindle 11. Since there is this excess projection of the bearing surfaces 35 when the sleeve 32 is in its normal relaxed state, the yarn support 10 will normally be held on the rotatable portion 16 of the spindle 11.

In order to remove the yarn support 10 from the spindle 11, it is necessary to decrease the diameter of the bearing surfaces 35 on the sleeve 32 to a dimension less than the inside diameter of the yarn support 10. This is accomplished by applying a vacuum to the recess 33 when it is desired to remove the yarn support 10. This operation takes place when the spindle is at rest. The vacuum is applied through port located in the stationary portion 30. The port 40 communicates with an annular recess 41 in the stationary portion 30 and the annular recess registers with ports 42 in the rotatable member 16. The ports 42 are, in turn, connected to the recesses 33 beneath the sleeve 32. When the vacuum is applied, the sleeve 32 tends to collapse into the recess 33 and thereby release the yarn support 10. In order to seal the area between stationary portion 30 and the rotatable portion 16, pairs of O-rings 4343 are positioned around the rotatable member 16 and are drawn down upon the rotatable member upon application on their external periphery of compressed air through a port 70.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 32 may be secured to the rotatable portion 16 by glueing or perhaps by circular bands positioned adjacent to the opposite ends of the sleeve 32. Also in accordance with the disclosed embodiment, the vacuum chamber 33 is divided into two compartments 33a and 3312 which are separated by rib 45 that has openings 47 therethrough to provide communication between the separate areas 33a and 33b. A bearing surface 35 is disposed around each section of the sleeve 32 over each portion 33a and 33b of the recess 33.

Referring now to FIG. 2 where there is shown a second embodiment of the invention, a sleeve 32 is shown positioned above the outer race of bearing 17 and near the free end of the spindle 11. The sleeve 32 is configured essentially like the sleeve 32 and has bearing surfaces 35 thereon which engage the yarn support 10. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, a recess 33' underlies the sleeve 32 and the recess is divided into two sections 33a and 3312. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, in order to remove the yarn support 10 from the spindle 11 a vacuum is applied to the recess 33 through a longitudinal channel 50 which has a lateral portion 51 and an axial portion 52. The axial portion 52 is surrounded by a diaphragm 53 which is disc-shaped and tapered. The diaphragm 53 fixed on the rotatable number 16 is positioned in a space between a modified end cap or nozzle 22', which has concentric tubes 54 and 55 associated therewith, and the rotatable member 16. The tube 55 registers with the nozzle 22 in the same way that the bore 21, in FIG. 1, registers with the nozzle 22 so that an oil mist may be passed down the tube to lubricate the bearings 17. The tube 54, however, is sealed off from the tube 55 and registers with the axial bore 52 and the diaphragm 53. At rest, a vacuum can be applied through the tube 54. The diaphragm 53 is fixed on the rotatable member 16 and is positioned in a space between a modified end cap or nozzle 22' and the rotatable member 16. The nozzle 22 has concentric tubes 54 and 55 associated therewith. The yarn support 10 then may, of course, be slid from the spindle 11. However, when the spindle 11 is rotating so that the rotatable portion 16 moves about the stationary portion 14, centrifugal force will cause the diaphragm 53 to open, thus breaking the seal between the diaphragm 53 and the end 58 of the nozzle 22. This condition is shown in both FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, if by accident the vacuum connection of tube 54 is made during operation, the effect of the vacuum in tube 54 is insufficient to counterbalance the centrifugal force, the diaphragm 53 cannot press against the end 58 of the nozzle 22, and sealing is not achieved. So the vacuum applied through tube 54 is not transmitted to the recesses 33a and 33b to cause the sleeve 32 to collapse. Consequently, the sleeve 32' will hold the tube 10 in place on the spindle ll.

The diaphragm-type seal 53 is configured so that a space of about 0.2 mm indicated by the distance d separates the diaphragm from the surface 58 as the rotatable portion 16 rotates, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 2 has an additional safety feature to assure that the vacuum applied through the tube 54 will not release the yarn support when the spindle 11 is rotating since the seal 53 cannot flatten against the surface 58 because of centrifugal force.

By positioning the sleeve 32 adjacent to the free end of the spindle 11, machining of the spindle 11 is made simpler. In addition, by placing the sleeve 32 near the end of the spindle 11, the bearing surfaces 35 must engage a longer portion of the inner surface of the yarn support 10 before the yarn support 10 is removed, thereby providing an additional safety feature.

In order to illustrate the action of the sleeve 32 attention is directed to FIG. 4 in which the sleeve 32 is shown in its collapsed position due to an application of a vacuum through the tube 54. As is seen in FIG. 4, the bearing surfaces 35 are retracted away from the tube 10, allowing the tube 10 to slide from the rotatable portion 16 of the spindle 11.

In both of the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the spindle 11 is shown equipped with a centrifugal centering means 60 made up of three identical weights 61 which are floated on weak leaf springs, such as springs 62. Each weight is positioned approximately in the middle of the spindle 11 and extends along the length which is determined by a calculation of the inertia resistance of the materials as a function of the maximum desired speed. At high speed, the length of each weight 61 is short. However, several can be placed side-byside. When three weights 61 are utilized, they are mounted around the spindle 11 over arcs of 120 each, and are radially mobile. The weights define an outside diameter which is either equal to or slightly greater than the inside diameter of the yarn support 10. In rotation, the centrifugal inertia forces applied to the weights 61 are greater than the forces created by imbalance and is countered on an empty yarn support 10 or on a partially full yarn support. This is because at high speeds, the forces created by imbalance tend to deform the tube. The tube tends to become bowed. But the centrifugal forces applied to the weights 61 are markedly greater than the forces due to the imbalance, so the effect of the imbalance is counterbalance. Accordingly, the weights 61 provide a strong mechanical centering force at a location in the middle of the yarn support 10. When the spindle 11 is stopped, the weights 61 apply only the force exerted my the springs 62 allowing the yarn support 10 to be easily removed from the spindle 11.

Generally, the type of spindle 11 herein described is able to sustain high rotational speeds in excess of 40,000 rpm which correspond to winding speeds on the order of 6,000 7,000 m/min. and more. At speeds of this magnitude, the spindle 11 rotates smoothly without vibration and imbalance while holding the yarn support or tube 10 securely even when the yarn support or tube has geometric and mechanical imperfections. The tube 10 does not bow in its center due to the action of the weights 61 of the centrifugal center 60. In addition, the spindle 11, according to the instant invention, can mount and rotate tubes or spools of any dimensions and, in particular, is adaptable to accommodate tubes or spools having a length of 250 300 mm or more, with an inside diameter of 50 mm or more. The spindle according to the instant invention has an operative design life of at least 20,000 hours.

The present invention relates to winding yarns of all types, whether the yarns be continuous or fiber yarns. The yarns may be of any count and may be made of any material, be that material natural, artificial, synthetic, inorganic, etc.

The afore-described examples and embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the instant invention, which are defined in the following appended claims. The invention is limited only by the recitations of the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spindle for supporting and rotating a tube around which strand material is wound, comprising:

a central portion extending in axial alignment with the tube, said central portion having a periphery with at least one recess therein;

a radially retractable sleeve surrounding said recess and disposed about said central portion;

a bearing surface on said radially retractable sleeve for engaging the inner surface of the tube in nonslip relationship when the sleeve is not retracted; and

means for applying a vacuum to said recess to retract said sleeve radially and thereby disengage said bearing surface from non-slip engagement with the tube so the tube may be removed from the spindle.

2. The spindle of claim 1 whrein the sleeve is made of elastic material.

3. The spindle of claim 2 wherein the recess is a circular groove and wherein the sleeve is secured adjacent each end thereof to the central portion of the spindle.

4. The spindle of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is circular in shape.

5. The spindle of claim 1 wherein the central portion of the spindle includes a stationary member and a rotat-' able member concentrically disposed about said stationary member.

6. The spindle of claim 5 further including an air turbine for driving the rotatable member.

7. The spindle of claim 5 wherein the central portion includes a bore for transporting lubricant to facilitate rotation between the central stationary member and the rotatable member.

8. The spindle of claim 1 further including sealing means on the means for applying a vacuum, said sealing means preventing application of the vacuum to said recess when the spindle is rotating the tube.

9. The spindle of claim 1 further including radially movable means positioned midway along the length of the spindle and around the circumference of the spindle for engaging the tube and supporting the tube along a mid portion thereof as the spindle rotates.

10. The spindle of claim 9 wherein the radially movable means are weights floated on springs so that said weights are urged against the tube by centrifugal force.

1 1. The spindle of claim 9 wherin the radially retractable sleeve is disposed near the free end of the spindle and the radially movable means disposed inboard of the radially retractable sleeve.

12. The spindle of claim 8 wherein the means for applying a vacuum includes two spaced tubes coaxially disposed within the spindle, wherein the first tube flexes away in non-sealing relationship with the sealing surface under the influence of centrifugal force and into sealing engagement with the sealing surface when the spindle is at rest and a vacuum is applied to the first tube. 

1. A spindle for supporting and rotating a tube around which strand material is wound, comprising: a central portion extending in axial alignment with the tube, said central portion having a periphery with at least one recess therein; a radially retractable sleeve surrounding said recess and Disposed about said central portion; a bearing surface on said radially retractable sleeve for engaging the inner surface of the tube in non-slip relationship when the sleeve is not retracted; and means for applying a vacuum to said recess to retract said sleeve radially and thereby disengage said bearing surface from non-slip engagement with the tube so the tube may be removed from the spindle.
 2. The spindle of claim 1 whrein the sleeve is made of elastic material.
 3. The spindle of claim 2 wherein the recess is a circular groove and wherein the sleeve is secured adjacent each end thereof to the central portion of the spindle.
 4. The spindle of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface is circular in shape.
 5. The spindle of claim 1 wherein the central portion of the spindle includes a stationary member and a rotatable member concentrically disposed about said stationary member.
 6. The spindle of claim 5 further including an air turbine for driving the rotatable member.
 7. The spindle of claim 5 wherein the central portion includes a bore for transporting lubricant to facilitate rotation between the central stationary member and the rotatable member.
 8. The spindle of claim 1 further including sealing means on the means for applying a vacuum, said sealing means preventing application of the vacuum to said recess when the spindle is rotating the tube.
 9. The spindle of claim 1 further including radially movable means positioned midway along the length of the spindle and around the circumference of the spindle for engaging the tube and supporting the tube along a mid portion thereof as the spindle rotates.
 10. The spindle of claim 9 wherein the radially movable means are weights floated on springs so that said weights are urged against the tube by centrifugal force.
 11. The spindle of claim 9 wherin the radially retractable sleeve is disposed near the free end of the spindle and the radially movable means disposed inboard of the radially retractable sleeve.
 12. The spindle of claim 8 wherein the means for applying a vacuum includes two spaced tubes coaxially disposed within the spindle, wherein the first tube passes through the central stationary member and the second tube passes through the rotatable member.
 13. The spindle of claim 12 wherein the sealing means includes a flat sealing surface on the stationary member through which the first tube opens and an annular diaphragm positioned at the end of the second tube, said diaphragm having a flexible skirt which flexes away in non-sealing relationship with the sealing surface under the influence of centrifugal force and into sealing engagement with the sealing surface when the spindle is at rest and a vacuum is applied to the first tube. 